Four subclasses, what each costs, current processing times, and the evidence the Department expects.
The onshore partner visa. Who is eligible, the $11,710 charge, processing times and evidence.
Lodged from outside Australia. Eligibility, the $11,710 charge, processing times and evidence.
The Prospective Marriage visa. The $11,710 charge, the nine month window to marry, and the evidence.
For partners of New Zealand citizens. Cost, the five year validity, evidence, and paper lodgement.
Which visa applies, the evidence expected, and how to apply when you could not be open at home.
When criteria 3001, 3003 and 3004 apply, what counts as compelling reasons, and the Waensila principle.
Who can access them, the evidence required, the 2024 changes, and continuing your visa after leaving.
The two sponsorship limit, the five year rule, criminal record bars, and the regulation 1.20J waiver.
28 calendar days to apply to the ART. Success rates, deadlines by subclass, and what to do first.
Who qualifies, the refugee and complementary protection tests, the $50 charge, and the interview.
Eligibility, the refugee and complementary protection tests, the $50 charge, and how to apply.
Section 36(2)(aa). The five types of significant harm, the real risk test, and the exclusions.
What the delegate asks, how the interpreter works, what happens on the day, and how to prepare.
The particular social group ground, the S395 discretion principle, and how these claims are proved.
Converts, minorities and apostasy claims, how genuineness of belief is tested, and what evidence works.
28 days to apply to the ART. Time limits, success rates, and what happens if the Tribunal affirms.
Appeal deadlines by visa type, what the Tribunal does, why appeals fail, and what happens if you are late.
NOICC responses, the grounds for cancellation, review rights, and what happens if you do nothing.
The 35 day limit under section 477, what jurisdictional error means, and which court hears it.
Sponsorship, Skills in Demand nominations, labour agreements, DAMAs, and permanent residence pathways.
Protection Visa Lawyers Canberra: What We Do
A Protection visa is not decided by completing Form 866 alone. The Department examines whether the applicant engages Australia's protection obligations, whether the account is credible and consistent, whether identity is established and whether the evidence supports the risk the applicant personally faces on return. That is why the protection visa lawyers Canberra team at My Migration Lawyers prepares every claim before lodgement.
Our protection visa lawyers Canberra team assesses the legal basis of the claim, identifies credibility and evidentiary risks and settles the strategy. We prepare the Subclass 866 application, the statement of claims and legal submissions, organise the supporting evidence and country information, prepare the applicant for the Protection visa interview and respond to Department concerns.
Where an application has already been refused, our protection visa lawyers Canberra team reviews the decision, the review rights and the deadline, and acts on the ART review of the Protection visa refusal.
PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS
Speak to Our Lawyers
Ask Our Protection Visa Lawyers Canberra Team
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
HOW WE CAN ASSIST
Protection Visa Lawyers Canberra:
Protection Visa Services We Handle
Protection Visa Subclass 866
For people in Australia who cannot return to their country because they face persecution or a real risk of significant harm. Our protection visa lawyers Canberra team checks eligibility, validity, visa status, claims and evidence before lodgement. See Subclass 866 explained.
Complementary Protection
For applicants who may not meet the refugee criterion but face a real risk of significant harm under section 36(2)(aa). We address the statutory test, relocation and state protection. See complementary protection for LGBTI applicants.
Protection Visa Interviews
For applicants preparing to answer detailed questions about their history, identity, claims, documents and country information. Our protection visa lawyers Canberra team starts preparation well before the interview date. See common interview questions.
LGBTI Protection Claims
For claims based on sexual orientation, gender identity or intersex status, including cases affected by concealment, family opposition or limited documentary evidence. See LGBT Protection visa FAQs.
Religious Persecution Claims
For converts, apostates and members of religious minorities who need to establish their beliefs, personal history and the risk they face if returned. See Protection visa guide.
Protection Visa Refusals
For refused applicants who need urgent advice on the findings, ART review rights and the deadline. Our protection visa lawyers Canberra team rebuilds the case for review. See the ART hearing.
THE MML DIFFERENCE
Why Choose My Migration Lawyers for a Protection Visa?
THE MML DIFFERENCE
Why Choose My Migration Lawyers for a Protection Visa?
Careful legal analysis, evidence preparation and clear advice from protection visa lawyers Canberra when the consequences of a Protection visa decision may be permanent.
Protection Visa Case Strategy
Our protection visa lawyers Canberra team assesses the refugee criterion, complementary protection, application validity, immigration history and evidentiary risks before settling the strategy.
Interview and Department Response Support
We prepare applicants for the issues likely to be tested and provide targeted responses to requests for information, inconsistencies and adverse information.
Affordable Fees and Flexible Payment Options
My Migration Lawyers offers competitive professional fees and flexible payment arrangements designed to make legal representation more manageable. A written scope and costs agreement is provided before ongoing work begins. See processing times and Protection visa outcomes.
PROTECTION VISA EXPLAINED
Protection Visa Subclass 866 Explained
Watch My Migration Lawyers' video guide to the Protection visa (Subclass 866): who may qualify, the refugee and complementary protection criteria, Form 866, bridging visas, statements of claims, evidence and the Department interview. For advice on your own claim, speak with our protection visa lawyers Canberra team. Read the Subclass 866 guide, Subclass 866 in Australia and the Subclass 866 Protection visa.
GET ADVICE BEFORE THE RISK INCREASES
When Should You Consult a Protection Visa Lawyer in Canberra?
You should consult protection visa lawyers Canberra before lodging a Protection visa application. Section 48A generally prevents a person from making another Protection visa application after a refusal, so the quality and timing of the first application matter.
Advice is especially important if your current visa is close to expiring, your account contains dates or details you are unsure about, you have limited identity documents, you delayed making the claim, or information in an earlier visa application may appear inconsistent. If you are on a visitor or student visa, see Protection visas on a tourist visa and Protection visas for students.
Contact our protection visa lawyers Canberra team promptly if the Department invites you to an interview, requests more information, raises adverse information or refuses the application. See when you need a Protection visa lawyer.
Advice is especially important if your current visa is close to expiring, your account contains dates or details you are unsure about, you have limited identity documents, you delayed making the claim, or information in an earlier visa application may appear inconsistent. If you are on a visitor or student visa, see Protection visas on a tourist visa and Protection visas for students.
Contact our protection visa lawyers Canberra team promptly if the Department invites you to an interview, requests more information, raises adverse information or refuses the application. See when you need a Protection visa lawyer.
Do not wait for the Department interview to identify weaknesses in the written claim. The delegate will compare what you say at interview with everything previously provided.
FROM ASSESSMENT TO DECISION
How Protection Visa Lawyers Canberra Manage a Claim
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
01
Protection Visa Eligibility Assessment
Our protection visa lawyers Canberra team examines the applicant's location, visa status, immigration history, identity, account and feared harm, and whether the circumstances engage the refugee criterion, complementary protection or neither. See Protection visa eligibility and what a Protection visa lawyer does.
02
Subclass 866 Lodgement Strategy
Before lodgement, My Migration Lawyers identifies validity issues, timing risks, possible inconsistencies and the evidence requiring explanation. Lodgement timing may also affect your bridging visa position.
03
Protection Visa Application and Statement of Claims
Our protection visa lawyers Canberra team prepares the application and a detailed chronological statement setting out your own account, which you review and correct, and legal submissions that present it in the form the law requires. We also complete supporting forms such as Form 80.
04
Protection Visa Evidence and Country Information
Evidence may include identity documents, corroborating records, witness statements, translations and reliable country information. We organise the material around the issues the Department must decide. See the documents checklist.
05
Lodgement and Bridging Visa Advice
My Migration Lawyers lodges the Subclass 866 application on your instructions, appointed by Form 956, and advises on the bridging visa granted, its conditions and work rights, and sets up your ImmiAccount access.
06
Protection Visa Interview Preparation
Our protection visa lawyers Canberra team reviews the complete application with you, identifies credibility issues likely to be tested and prepares you for detailed questioning. See interview preparation and interview questions.
07
Department Responses, Refusals and ART Review
We respond to requests for information and adverse material. If the visa is refused, our protection visa lawyers Canberra team assesses the reasons and the deadline and represents you at the ART Canberra Registry at Level 8, 14 Moore Street, Canberra City. See ART review after refusal.
TALK TO A PROTECTION VISA LAWYER
Get Advice From Protection Visa Lawyers Canberra
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
CHOOSING A PROTECTION VISA LAWYER
How Do You Choose the Best Protection Visa Lawyer in Canberra?
The best protection visa lawyers Canberra clients can choose have verifiable credentials and substantial experience with Subclass 866 applications, statements of claims, evidence and Department interviews. At My Migration Lawyers, Weiwei Zhang, Principal Lawyer, leads the practice, and the firm acts in many complex protection matters. See our Protection visa lawyers guide.
Check Professional Credentials
Confirm that the lawyer advising you is an Australian legal practitioner with a current practising certificate. About My Migration Lawyers.
Choose Relevant Subclass 866 Experience
Protection visa work is not handled by every migration lawyer or migration agent. Our protection visa lawyers Canberra team handles refugee claims, complementary protection, credibility issues and country information, and prepares clients for Department interviews.
Expect an Honest Claim Assessment
A protection visa lawyer should examine your current visa, immigration history, identity, account, evidence and reasons for fearing return, and identify gaps and inconsistencies before anything is lodged. See Protection visa FAQs.
Obtain a Written Scope
My Migration Lawyers provides a written costs agreement with a fixed fee for each stage, stating whether it includes the statement of claims, evidence review, submissions, Department correspondence and interview preparation. See fixed-fee lawyers.
Assess Communication and Confidentiality
Protection claims involve sensitive information about political opinion, religion, ethnicity, sexuality, gender identity, family violence or past harm. Ask how confidential information will be handled and how your protection visa lawyers Canberra team will give advice, updates and urgent correspondence. Already have a lawyer? See getting a second opinion.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR OPTIONS
Protection Visa Lawyer or Migration Agent in Canberra: What Is the Difference?
Australian immigration lawyers and registered migration agents can both provide immigration assistance, prepare Protection visa applications, communicate with the Department and represent eligible clients in ART proceedings.
An immigration lawyer is also an Australian legal practitioner who can advise on legislation, application validity, credibility issues, procedural fairness, evidentiary risk and the legal consequences of a refusal. Certain confidential communications with your protection visa lawyers Canberra team may attract legal professional privilege. See migration agent vs immigration lawyer.
An immigration lawyer is also an Australian legal practitioner who can advise on legislation, application validity, credibility issues, procedural fairness, evidentiary risk and the legal consequences of a refusal. Certain confidential communications with your protection visa lawyers Canberra team may attract legal professional privilege. See migration agent vs immigration lawyer.
Check the individual practitioner's credentials and Protection visa experience rather than relying only on the words "lawyer", "agent" or "consultant".
PROTECTION VISA LAWYERS CANBERRA ACROSS THE REGION
Protection Visa Lawyers Canberra Serving Canberra, the ACT and Nearby Regional New South Wales
My Migration Lawyers acts as the protection visa lawyers Canberra clients rely on throughout Canberra, the ACT and nearby regional New South Wales, including:
Canberra City
Dickson
Kingston
Molonglo Valley
Inner North
Lyneham
Griffith
Tuggeranong
Inner South
Belconnen
Manuka
Queanbeyan
Braddon
Bruce
Woden Valley
Australian Capital Territory
Turner
Gungahlin
Phillip
O’Connor
Franklin
Weston Creek
Consultations, application preparation and document review with our protection visa lawyers Canberra team are completed electronically. We assist with Protection visa applications, statements of claims, evidence, Department interviews, requests for information and Protection visa refusals.
Local guide: choosing a Protection visa lawyer in Canberra. For other migration matters, see immigration lawyers Canberra.
Our protection visa lawyers also act for clients in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Hobart, Gold Coast.
Local guide: choosing a Protection visa lawyer in Canberra. For other migration matters, see immigration lawyers Canberra.
Our protection visa lawyers also act for clients in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Hobart, Gold Coast.
PROTECTION VISA LAWYERS CANBERRA FAQS
Protection Visa Lawyers Canberra: Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the questions Indonesians applicants ask most often. See also our 30 protection visa FAQs and 30 LGBT protection visa FAQs.
What do protection visa lawyers in Canberra do?
Protection visa lawyers Canberra clients instruct assess the legal basis of the claim, prepare the Subclass 866 application, statement of claims and submissions, organise evidence, prepare the applicant for interview and respond to the Department. Our protection visa lawyers Canberra team also acts after a refusal. See our Protection visa lawyers.
How much do protection visa lawyers in Canberra charge?
Fees depend on the stage and complexity. My Migration Lawyers charges a fixed fee for each stage, set out in a written costs agreement, so protection visa lawyers Canberra clients know the cost in advance. The government charge for the application is separate. See fixed-fee lawyers.
Can I apply for a Protection visa in Canberra while on a tourist or student visa?
Yes. Condition 8503 (No Further Stay) expressly excludes Protection visas, so it does not prevent the application. Our protection visa lawyers Canberra team checks your entry, visa history and any application bars first. See Protection visas on a tourist visa and Protection visas for students.
I have overstayed my visa. Can I still apply for a Protection visa?
Yes, in most cases. Protection visas remain available under the section 48 bar, and an overstay does not by itself prevent the application. Our protection visa lawyers Canberra team treats overstay matters as urgent because of the bridging visa consequences. See bridging visas.
Can protection visa lawyers in Canberra prepare my statement of claims?
Yes. Our protection visa lawyers Canberra team prepares a detailed chronological statement of your own account, which you review and correct, explaining what happened, who was involved, why you were targeted and what you fear on return. See the statement of claims.
Can protection visa lawyers in Canberra prepare me for the Department interview?
Yes. Our protection visa lawyers Canberra team reviews the complete application with you, identifies areas likely to be tested and prepares you to answer detailed questions accurately in your own words. See the Protection visa interview and interview preparation.
Can a lawyer attend my Protection visa interview?
Depending on the matter and the Department's arrangements, a lawyer may attend. The lawyer does not give evidence for you, but can observe and raise procedural or legal issues. Our protection visa lawyers Canberra team advises whether attendance is appropriate. See interview questions.
Do protection visa lawyers in Canberra handle LGBTI protection claims?
Yes. Our protection visa lawyers Canberra team acts in claims based on sexual orientation, gender identity and intersex status, including cases involving concealment, delayed disclosure and limited documentary evidence. See LGBTI Protection visas and the LGBTI guide.
Do protection visa lawyers in Canberra handle religious persecution claims?
Yes. Our protection visa lawyers Canberra team acts for converts, apostates and members of religious minorities, and prepares the evidence of belief, practice and risk the Department examines. See religious persecution claims and Protection visa evidence.
Can protection visa lawyers in Canberra help someone in immigration detention?
Yes. Our protection visa lawyers Canberra team advises on Protection visa applications, review rights and deadlines for people in immigration detention anywhere in Australia, where review periods can be especially short. Send My Migration Lawyers the decision and detention correspondence immediately.
Can I work while my Protection visa is being processed?
It depends on the visa you held and the bridging visa granted with your application. Our protection visa lawyers Canberra team checks your bridging visa conditions and advises on work rights at lodgement. See Bridging visa A.
Can my family be included in my Protection visa application?
Members of your family unit who are in Australia can be included in a Subclass 866 application. Our protection visa lawyers Canberra team advises who can be included and prepares their applications with yours. See permanent Protection visa eligibility.
I did not apply as soon as I arrived. Will the delay stop my Protection visa?
No. There is no time limit for lodging a Protection visa, but the Department will ask why you delayed. Our protection visa lawyers Canberra team addresses the reasons directly in the statement and submissions. See delayed applications and engaging a lawyer after lodgement.
My Protection visa was refused. What can protection visa lawyers in Canberra do?
Our protection visa lawyers Canberra team reviews the refusal reasons, confirms ART review rights and lodges within the deadline, which is short and strictly applied. We represent eligible clients at the ART Canberra Registry at Level 8, 14 Moore Street, Canberra City. See the refusal and ART guide and ART appeals.
Can I make a second Protection visa application after a refusal?
Generally no. Section 48A prevents a further Protection visa application while you remain in Australia after a refusal, which is why the first application and the ART review matter. Our protection visa lawyers Canberra team advises on what remains available. See ART hearing preparation.
How do I book a consultation with protection visa lawyers in Canberra?
Book online or call 1300 040 300. Consultations with our protection visa lawyers Canberra team are by Zoom and confidential, so there is no need to visit an office. Tell us the stage of your matter and any deadline. Contact details.
About the Reviewer
Who Reviewed This Page
Weiwei Zhang is an Australian lawyer practising exclusively in Australian migration law and is the Principal Lawyer at My Migration Lawyers. She reviews the firm's published legal guidance for accuracy.
Weiwei Zhang
Managing Director and Principal Lawyer, My Migration Lawyers
Weiwei Zhang
Principal Lawyer
Weiwei Zhang is an Australian lawyer practising exclusively in Australian migration law and is the Principal Lawyer at My Migration Lawyers. She reviews the firm's published legal guidance for accuracy.
Last Reviewed
16 September 2026
Question not answered here? Ask our lawyers directly.